Illuminated mail box



Oct. l2 1926.

S. A. RHODES ILLUMINATED MAIL Box Fiied March 25, 192e [NV NTOR E inuJ/i" fw/42) ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 12, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ILLUMINATED MAIL BOX.

Application filed March 25, 1926. Serial No. 97,335.

The objectof my invention is to provide a mail box of new construction which will have its number or identifying letter or name illuminated so that the carrier ca n readily note the box at those hours when it is dark; further, to provide a novel arrangement ot the compartment which contains the light used ior illuminating purposes and the mail containing compartment, and .an improved bottom for the mail containing compartment, whereby the said bottom may be readily removed to ai'lord access to the light, to enable the latter to be removed and a new bulb substituted, when necessary.

The mail box embodying my invention is set forth fully hereinafter and is shown 1n the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a front elevation;

Figure 2 is a side elevation, broken away;

Figure 3 is a section on line 3 3 of F1gure 2; and

Figure i is a section on line 4 4 of Figure 2.

The box 1 is oi' metal or wood, preferably of sheet aluminum and it has a hinged top 2 provided with slot 3 to receive the mail. Mail passed through the slot 3 is received within the compartment 4 and sustained by an improved removable bottom 5. This bottom is supported on lugs or brackets G eX- tending beneath the bottom, inwardly from the sides of the box l. The bottom has a linger hole 7 which enables a person to introduce his hand into compartment 5 and insert his linger through said hole for the purpose oi bodily removing the bottom 5 from the box for a purpose which will presently appear.

The lower part of the boX has a light compartment 8 in which is a suitable e1ectric light or lamp socket 9 whose circuit wires appear at 10, said wires being intended to be connected with a battery or with the ordinary house lighting current. An electric lamp or bulb 11 which is screwed into the socket 9 affords the illumination for the display ot' the box or house number or name ot the owner or any other indicia, the latter being cut through the front of lthe box as shown at 12 so that the light will shine through the numerals, letters, or other matter which identifies the boX.

On the inside of the front of the compartment S is a glass holder 13 in which is re movably received a pane of glass 11i.

Ordinarily, the current is turned on to illuminate the bulb l1 during hours of darkness or twilight and the light shines through the pane l/l and the cut-out part l2. Should the lightll become burned out, the cover 2 is raised and the hand is inserted into the compartment 4, the finger being pushed through the opening 7 whereupon the bottom 5 can be removed. The lamp 11 is then accessible and can be taken out and a new bulb substituted.

Similarly, should the glass 14 become broken, access can be had to it by removing the bottom 5 as previously described.

I claim:

l. A mail box having an Lipper mail receiving compartment and a lower illuminating compartment, and a removable bottom tor the mail receiving compartment which serves as a partition between said upper and lower' compartments and which may be removed through the mail receiving compartment to afford access to the illuminating compartment.

2. A mail box having an upperinail receiving compartment, and a lower illuminating compartment, said box being provided with interior lugs, and a plate resting on said lugs, said plate serving as a bottom for the mail receiving compartment and being provided with a finger hole, said bottom when removed permitting access to the illuminating compartment through the mail receiving compartment.

3. A mail box having an upper mail receiving compartment and a lower illuminating compartment, the wall ot the illuminating compartment having an opening therethrough, a holder carried by said wall, a removable transparent pane carried by said holde and a removable bottom for the mail receiving compartment constitute a partition between the two compartments, means being provided tor holding said bottom in position, said bottom being removable through the mail receiving compartment.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

c SAMUEL AUGUSTA iii-iones. 

